Alana's Favorites and New Discoveries - August 2024 📖

Hi all! I’m Alana, and I’m the Adult Programs Coordinator for Ida Rupp Library. My blog posts will consist of older favorites and recommendations along with new finds in the wide world of entertainment. I never limit myself based on audience or genre, so whatever your preference, I hope I can help you find your next watch, read, listen, or play-through!

This month’s pick is one of my favorite reads of the year so far (and I’ve read 45 books since January 1st, so that’s saying something): Lockjaw by Canadian author Matteo L. Cerilli, who also happens to be a member of the trans community. This is Cerilli’s debut novel, a Young Adult horror revolving around the monsters under the streets and in the hearts of a community insistent on “minding their own business”. 

In the small town of Bridlington, Paz Espino is different and therefore outcast by most of the residents in town. Paz may have a reputation as a “troublemaker” or “habitual liar” in the eyes of Captain Reilly, who heads the police force in town, but she and her friends know the truth: she’s honest, willing to call out unfairness when she sees it instead of sweeping things under the rug. She stands up for the kids at school who would otherwise be treated like punching bags. Her crew is made up of other misfits in town: Ben, Ellie, and Sammy. After befriending Chuck Warren when she defends him from a schoolyard bully, Paz decides she wants to officially welcome him into her posse with a playing card for the spokes of his bicycle. Tragedy strikes when Chuck sneaks out to meet Paz for his card at the old abandoned mill. Paz is convinced that the monster living under town is to blame for Chuck’s untimely demise, and she’s determined to slay it before anyone else is hurt - even if everyone in Bridlington thinks her crazy for it. But things are not as they appear, and the band of outcasts soon realize that this monster is much harder to get rid of than they ever imagined. 

Rich in imagery and symbolism, Lockjaw boasts a fully realized and diverse cast of characters. Some are Latine, some are Vietnamese, some are transgender, and some are still figuring out their identities in a town - and a world - that wants them to remain in their designated boxes. Growing up in small-town America gives the novel a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of the summers when I rode my bike all over town, even though the author was actually born and raised in Canada. Cerilli manages to add depth to each character throughout the book’s 315 pages through their pasts, internal thoughts, and dialogue, giving them thoughtful backgrounds and motivations to act in certain ways. 

Cerilli’s debut is twisty, dark, gory, and above all, satisfying. For anyone who has ever been silenced, outcast, or felt otherwise helpless, Paz’s retribution on those who have wronged her and her crew provides a gruesome catharsis. The book is marketed toward Young Adult readers, yet the audience isn’t hand-fed a storyline. Instead, the reader must uncover the secrets of Bridlington layer by layer along with the characters themselves. This gives the narrative a natural suspense that makes Lockjaw compulsively readable. It’s a great horror read for the summer, especially for anyone who ever felt like they didn’t quite fit in. And despite all the hardships endured by the kids of Bridlington, the ending is both satisfying and hopeful for the future. 

If you decide to give Lockjaw a try, please be aware of the following content: abuse of children, animal attacks, animal deaths, blood and gore, bullying, deadnaming/transphobia, internalized homophobia, major character death(s), racism. If any of these topics are triggering, this may not be the book for you. For those of you still on board, Lockjaw can be placed on hold online, over the phone, or in person at any Ida Rupp location. As always, feel free to reach out and let me know your thoughts on the book if you’d like. Happy reading!